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Method and system for correcting distortions in image data scanned from bound originalsRelated Patent Categories: Image Analysis, Image Enhancement Or Restoration, Artifact Removal Or Suppression (e.g., Distortion Correction)Method and system for correcting distortions in image data scanned from bound originals description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060193533, Method and system for correcting distortions in image data scanned from bound originals. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The current invention is generally related to, and more particularly related to distortion correction and more particularly related to the correction of distortion that is caused in a bound portion of a bound book. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In duplicating an original using a flat bed scanner, the original is mostly a sheet. After the original sheet is placed on a contact glass surface of the scanner, a movable cover is placed over the original sheet to scan the original images. However, the original is not limited to sheets and includes bound materials such as books and booklets. The bound materials are also placed on the contact glass surface for scanning. As shown in FIG. 48, when a book original 100 is used, a bound portion 101 is lifted and not contacting the contact glass surface 102. Since the lifted bound portion 101 is away from the focus surface of the contact glass 102, the corresponding scanned image portion becomes inferior and includes distorted images, shadows, character distortions. Generally since the inferior image bound area 101 is hard to read, the character recognition (OCR) rate significantly degenerates. Particularly, a thick bound book causes a high rate of the OCR failures. To maintain the bound portion 101 on the focus plane 102 by pressing the book 100 onto the contact glass 102, one can damage the original book 100. [0003] To solve the above described problems, prior art has proposed a method of correcting image distortion by speculating a three dimensional shape from the image density information. One exemplary speculation method for the three dimensional shape based upon the image density is as follows: T. Wada, H, Uchida and T. Matsuyama, "Shape from Shading with Inter reflections under a Proximal Light Source: Distortion-Free Copying of an Unfolded Book," International Journal Computer Vision 24(2), 125-135 (1997). In the above reference, a method called, "Shape from Shading" is a typical example. Unfortunately, since the Shape from Shading method requires a long calculation time for the distortion correction process, the practical use of this method is difficult. Another prior art technology as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Hei 5-161002 includes a proposed method of correcting the distortion based upon the book shape that is measured by triangulation. Despite the simplicity, since triangulation requires a special shape measuring device for measuring the book shape, this prior art technology is also practical. [0004] Yet another prior art technology as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Hei 11-41455 includes a proposed method of speculating a three dimensional shape of the book surface based upon the page outline shape of the scanned image. Although the amount of calculation is limited for the distortion correction, this prior art technology fails to effectively correct the distortion when the page shape is cut off and not completely included in the scanned image. [0005] For the above shortcomings, a newly proposed distortion correction device effectively correct the distortions based upon a limited amount of calculation even if the page outline is cut off from the scanned image. Although the above newly proposed distortion correction device utilizes the information on character lines and rule lines rather than the page outline to correct the image distortion, the distortion correction is not perfect and still has some issues to be resolved. For example, when the rule line is broken due to fading, the rule line information is inaccurately extracted, and the correction accuracy is lowered. Furthermore, when the character line and photographic portions are erroneously identified, the character line information is inaccurately extracted. As a result, the correction accuracy is also lowered. The above described problems remain to be desired. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] In order to solve the above and other problems, according to a first aspect of the current invention, a method of correcting distortion caused by scanning, including the steps of: scanning an original into scanned image data; determining whether any of a predetermined correction data set of a page outline, a rule line and a character line exists in the scanned image data; and correcting the distortion based upon the existence of the correction data set, the page outline being used based upon a first priority, the rule line and the character line being used based upon a second priority. [0007] According to a second aspect of the current invention, a system for correcting distortion caused by scanning, including: a scanner for scanning an original into scanned image data; an image data processing unit connected to the scanner unit for determining whether any of a predetermined correction data set of a page outline, a rule line and a character line exists in the scanned image data; and an image distortion correction unit connected to the image data processing unit for correcting the distortion based upon the existence of the correction data set, the page outline being used based upon a first priority, the rule line and the character line being used based upon a second priority. [0008] According to a third aspect of the current invention, a storage medium containing a software program for correcting distortion caused by scanning, the software program performing the tasks of: scanning an original into scanned image data; determining whether any of a predetermined correction data set of a page outline, a rule line and a character line exists in the scanned image data; and correcting the distortion based upon the existence of the correction data set, the page outline being used based upon a first priority, the rule line and the character line being used based upon a second priority. [0009] These and various other advantages and features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a cross sectional view of an image reading unit or a scanner of one preferred embodiment according to the current invention. [0011] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a prospective view of an upper portion of one preferred embodiment of the digital copier according to the current invention. [0012] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating electrical connections among the units in the scanner 1 of the preferred embodiment according to the current invention. [0013] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating basic components of the image processing unit of the preferred embodiment according to the current invention. [0014] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating basic components of the main control unit of the preferred embodiment according to the current invention. [0015] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating steps involved in a preferred process of correcting the distortions in the scanned image data according to the current invention. [0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the image scanner on which the page bound portion of the book is placed on the contact glass in parallel to the main scanning direction as indicated by an arrow. [0017] FIG. 8 is one example of the inputted image to be corrected according the current invention. [0018] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the scanned image of the book with distortion near the bound portion. [0019] FIG. 10 is a histogram illustrating the distribution of the black pixels in the image data that is from the left portion to the boundary portion of the book image data as shown in FIG. 8. [0020] FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating further steps involved in the above step of extracting page outlines, rule lines and character lines in a preferred process of correcting the distortions in the scanned image data according to the current invention. Continue reading about Method and system for correcting distortions in image data scanned from bound originals... Full patent description for Method and system for correcting distortions in image data scanned from bound originals Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method and system for correcting distortions in image data scanned from bound originals patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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